As graduation season arrives, we’re proud to celebrate the Destination Imagination (DI) Class of 2025—a remarkable group of creative thinkers, problem solvers, and changemakers. For these students, DI has been more than an activity—it has been a journey that sparked passions, built confidence, and inspired leadership. Whether they’re pursuing science, the arts, engineering, or environmental conservation, each of these graduates carries with them the lifelong skills and values they gained through their DI experience.
We’re also thrilled to recognize this year’s DI scholarship recipients, outstanding individuals who have exemplified our mission to empower young people to be the innovators and leaders of tomorrow.
DI Graduate of the Year: Nila Arunkumar
Texas | Attending the University of Texas at Austin
Award: $10,000 scholarship
From her first hesitant steps as a kindergartener in DI to becoming a regional youth leader, Nila Arunkumar’s 13-year journey with Destination Imagination is a shining example of what creativity, courage, and commitment can achieve. Nila transformed from a reserved student into a confident communicator and STEM trailblazer—founding her school’s science fair club, excelling in engineering courses, and launching her own business at just 13. With 15 Challenges and 8 Global Finals under her belt—including 1st and 2nd place finishes—Nila’s leadership extends beyond the competition floor. She mentored elementary teams, launched a DI youth council, and organized workshops to pass on the DI spirit to others. Nila heads to UT Austin this fall to study computer engineering, carrying with her the creative confidence that DI helped ignite.
Founders Award: Isabelle Chao
Virginia | Attending Virginia Tech
Award: $6,000 scholarship
Isabelle Chao exemplifies the spirit of volunteerism that drives the DI community. Over her nine years in DI, she’s gone beyond team participation, taking on roles as a mentor, Instant Challenge designer, and event organizer in Virginia’s Tidewater region. A passionate environmental advocate, Isabelle has led efforts both in and out of school—from student government and cultural clubs to speaking at sustainability conferences and working on local conservation legislation. This fall, she begins her studies in Wildlife Conservation at Virginia Tech, with a continued dedication to using creativity and collaboration to serve her community and protect the natural world.
DI Scholars Award Recipients
Award: $1,000 scholarship
Each year, the DI Scholars Award honors students who embody the core values of Destination Imagination: respect, collaboration, stewardship, perseverance, and integrity. Congratulations to our 2025 recipients, who have demonstrated these qualities in outstanding ways:
Dylan Chen-Baker – Colorado
Tingjun An – China
Hayden Taylor – Texas
Dulce Ana Victoria Valencia – Guatemala
Giselle Garcia – Texas
To all of our graduating seniors: thank you for your energy, your ideas, and your commitment to thinking differently. You’ve tackled Team Challenges, Instant Challenges, and real-world challenges with creativity and courage. You’ve inspired us—and we know this is just the beginning.
Wherever life takes you next, you’ll always be part of the DI family. Whether it’s mentoring a team, volunteering at tournaments, or sharing your story, there are so many ways to stay involved and help ignite the creative spark in the next generation.
Once a DIer, always a DIer.
Congratulations, Class of 2025! We can’t wait to see how you change the world.
